Job title:Head of Curriculum Management

Reports to:Senior Assistant Registrar (Quality Assurance and Enhancement)

Department:Academic Services

Location:Moulsecoomb

Grade:8

Purpose of the role:

The university offers some 550 courses using approximately 3000 modules to 21,000 undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) students, covering almost the complete range of subject areas. We have a strong professional and vocational focus with over 50 Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies (PSRBs) recognising more than 330 courses.

The Head of Curriculum Management will lead and be responsible for two main areas: firstly, the development and implementation of Quality Assurance and Enhancement policies and processesin relation to curriculum approval, monitoring and review for the university, its partner organisations, and Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body accreditations and secondly the university’score curriculum data in order to meet internal, external and statutory reporting requirements and expectations informed by for example, HESA, the Competition and Markets Authority and the newly formed Office for Students.

Line management responsibility for:

Quality and Standards Advisors and Officers.

Main areas of responsibility:

  • To lead the development and implementation of Curriculum Management strategy, policy and procedures which meet university strategic objectives, maintain compliance and reduce risk to the university;
  • To lead continuous review and evaluation of Curriculum Management in order to secure an effective approach that continues to meet multiple needs;
  • To deliver Quality Assurance and Enhancement policy and processes that contribute to the maintenance of academic standards and quality of learning opportunities, that support responsive and secure curriculum delivery and developmentand that establish a good practice culture, through the following core processes:
  • curriculum approval including the development and validation of new courses;
  • modifications to existing provision;
  • periodic review policy and process;
  • Professional, Statutory, Regulatory Body requirements;
  • Toensure the needs of multiple stakeholders are met in relation to curriculum development, approval and review (including academic staff, prospective and current students, professional services and external organisations) taking into accountinstitutional, national and European expectations and regulatory frameworks;
  • To lead the management of core curriculum data to provide accurate and timely information for approval purposes, for prospective and current students, for downstream systems managed across the university (central services and school based), and for internal, external and statutory reporting requirements including our obligations (in relation to curriculum information) under the Competition and Markets Authority and Unistats;
  • To lead, manage, develop and coordinate professional staff teams and operations within Academic Services supporting quality and standards across the university to increase the effectiveness of the service by providing:
  • professional, specialist guidance to senior managers and academic colleagues regarding university policy and processes in the context of national policy around academic standards and quality assurance and enhancement and the university academic governance requirements, as well as associated external bodies;
  • providing innovative solutions in the light of local, unique and often complex circumstances and requirements where there are no clear precedents;
  • To lead the development of effective practices (communications, briefings, training, workshops) to ensure staff in relevant areas across the university are supported in their use of the university’s quality assurance and enhancement policies and processes;
  • To lead a team of professional staff and manage projects and resources and contribute to budget/financial planning;
  • To develop and maintain service level agreements and commit resource for the medium term to ensure the service is managed appropriately and efficiently and fully understands relevant regulations and codes of practice according to the specialist area.

General responsibilities

These are standard to all University of Brighton job descriptions.

  • To undertake other duties appropriate to the grade and character of work as may be reasonably required, including specific duties of a similar or lesser grade.
  • To adhere to the University’s Equality and Diversity Policy in all activities, and to actively promote equality of opportunity wherever possible
  • To be responsible for your own health and safety and that of your colleagues, in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act.
  • To work in accordance with the Data Protection Act.

The person specification focuses on the knowledge, qualifications, experience and skills (both general and technical) required to undertake the role effectively. Please ensure that your application demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria. You will be assessed by your completed application form (A), at interview (I) and in some instances through an exercise (E).

Essential criteria / A, I, E
Knowledge /
  • Significant knowledge of national strategies and policies concerned with quality assurance and enhancement including that gained through involvement with relevant professional networks;
  • Ability to develop and implement policies, procedures, regulations and to evaluate their effectiveness;
  • Ability to plan and prioritise a wide range of work activities, meeting conflicting work deadlines;
  • Ability to solve problems creatively and develop plans successfully, taking into account other perspectives and wider implications;
  • Ability to develop expertise and knowledge of resources to support the analysis and resolution of problems;
  • An effective communicator able to translate ideas and convey complex information and ideas both verbally and in writing;
  • Demonstrates influencing and negotiation skills to reach effective outcomes.
/ A, I, E
A, I , E
A, I
A, I, E
A, I
A, I, E
A, I
Qualifications /
  • Educated to degree level or equivalent practical application of theoretical knowledge plus significant experience.
/ A
Experience /
  • Proven experience of developing and implementing quality and academic policy and regulatory frameworks within UK Higher Education;
  • Proven experience of managing an administrative service in a complex and large institution;
  • Proven experience of managing budgets and/or resources to deliver agreed outcomes.
/ A, I
A, I
A, I
Managing people /
  • Experience of leading and developing a team to implement policy and strategy taking into account the needs of a variety of stakeholders and strategic priorities;
  • Ability to plan for the management of change and advise on change implementation;
  • Able to work as part of a team, sharing good practice and developing effective professional relationships with colleagues.
/ A, I
A, I
A, I
Technical/work based skills /
  • Computer skills, including Microsoft Office, online systems.
/ A
Desirable /
  • Use of complex records system within a higher education context;
  • Experience of information management or records management in a higher education context.
/ A, I
A, I
  • Any appointment is generally made at the bottom of the salary range for the grade dependent upon experience and previous salary.
  • This is a full time post and is permanent.
  • Annual leave entitlements are shown in the table below and increase after 5 years’ service. In addition, to the eight Bank Holidays, there are university discretionary days between Christmas and New Year. All leave, including bank holidays and discretionary days, are pro-rated for part time employees.

Grades / Basic entitlement per year / Grades / After 5 years’ service
1-3 / 23 days / 1-3 / 28 days
4-7 / 25 days / 4-7 / 30 days
8-9 / 27 days / 8-9 / 30 days
  • More information about the department can be found here.
  • The University has an attractive range of benefits and you can find more information about them on our website.

Date: January 2018